LETTER: Vouchers will create 'two-tier' school systems

With all of the rush to "reform" education in the state of Tennessee quickly so the legislators can go home early, there are several things no one has pointed out. With the vouchers and charter schools, you have a blueprint for the destruction of the public schools of this state.

Think about this: (1) the public schools in this state already have a limited supply of funds with which to do their job. (2) If you give these vouchers to allow students to attend these charter schools or private schools, you will be robbing the public schools that over the years have done a remarkable job given the small amount of money they have been given to work with. (3) The legislature, at the bidding of others outside this state pushing this legislation, will be creating a "two-tier" school system in this state: one for those who get public money to go to private or charter schools and one for those who can't get a "scholarship" (voucher) to go to one.

This looks suspiciously like the separate but unequal school systems we had before integration. Back then, we had one school for the white students to attend and one school for the black students to attend. We didn't even try to educate about 50 percent of the school-age population, especially those with special needs. Do we as taxpayers really want to go there again? I for one do not want my tax money to be spent to give a voucher to a student to go to a charter school! The amount I have heard mentioned per voucher is $9,000. If the bill passes and becomes law, and 20,000 vouchers are handed out, the public school system in this state will lose $180 million! That is right! I do not want to go back to the days before integration!

Oh! By the way, the money paid to the charter schools will go into some corporation's pocket in Arizona, Texas, California, Michigan or some other state! It will not stay in Tennessee to help fuel our state's economy! Do you want this to happen? If you do not, contact your legislators today!

Sue Cain

Berkeley Street

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Email this article

LETTER: Vouchers will create 'two-tier' school systems

With all of the rush to 'reform' education in the state of Tennessee quickly so the legislators can go home early, there are several things no one has pointed out.